Burnt Offerings

Valancourt 20th Century Classics

By: Robert Marasco, Stephen Graham Jones

Narrated by: R.C. Bray

Length: 7 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

Ben and Marian Rolfe are desperate to escape a stifling summer in their tiny Brooklyn apartment, so when they get the chance to rent a mansion in Upstate New York for the entire summer for only $900, it’s an offer that’s too good to refuse. There’s only one catch: Behind a strange and intricately carved door in a distant wing of the house lives elderly Mrs. Allardyce, and the Rolfes will be responsible for preparing her meals.

But Mrs. Allardyce never seems to emerge from her room, and it soon becomes clear that something weird and terrifying is happening in the house. As the suspense builds toward a revelation of what really lies behind that locked door, the Rolfes will discover that their cheap vacation rental comes at a terrible cost....

The basis for a classic 1976 film adaptation and an acknowledged influence on Stephen King’s The Shining, Burnt Offerings is one of the most original and scariest haunted house novels ever written. This edition, the first in decades, features a new introduction by award-winning author Stephen Graham Jones.

“Burnt Offerings has no peer. Better than Rosemary’s Baby, The Other, and The Exorcist.” (Hartford Courant)

“Insidiously frightening.... It snares you early and draws you inexorably to one of the most nerve-shattering finales in years.” (Publishers Weekly)

“Just pick a quiet place and an uninterrupted time to read this novel. You’ll be inclined to jump at sudden noises or even hurl the book at intruders.” (Chicago Tribune)

©1973, 2016 Robert Marasco (P)2016 Valancourt Books LLC

idk why the reviews are so negative

I actually loved this book. didn't xpect to. I'm glad I didn't read the reviews beforehand. I actually tell myself not to read reviews anymore because they deterred me from so many books that I later found enjoyable. A wonderful Southern Gothic read.

not very scary

First off, Mr Bray was impeccable as always. You are a national treasure.

Let me start by saying that I don't normally listen to horror, or thriller stories. That said, this book was boring. The story was meh, and at no point was I ever anxious or worried (maybe the second pool scene had me a scoche anxious). Kind of a "well duh" story line, especially the ending.

Loved it!

Great read draws you right into the story from the beginning. Till the end keeps you riveted to your seat

Definitely a spooky tale!

I saw the movie before reading the book and was pleasantly surprised to find that the movie followed the story line, pretty much true to form. The narration was on point and the experience left me feeling a little haunted, but pleasantly so; which is the whole reason for reading this genre of literature. This title was on sale, but would have been worth the experience at full price.

Not even RC Bray could save this one

RC Bray is great as usual but this story severely lacked character development, the story was stagnant and the book just wasn’t scary.

Dragged

I think I liked the summary of this story more than the actual story. The characters are frustrating and unlikeable. I think that really killed this story for me. I kept thinking, “man, I hope these folks die off soon.” It’s such a slow moving story, you have to endure so much boring details to get to any exciting bits (that weren’t all that exciting in my opinion, but to each their own). Narrator was okay. Story is not for me.

Don’t let ‘em fool ya

There is nothing horrifying or terrifying about this story.The publisher summary is load of poppycock.And while I’m on the subject, let me just say that Stephen King’s book reviews are mostly garbage and unreliable. If you are a horror fan, and should you see he has given a book a favorable review, the chances are very good that you will not enjoy it very much.